Capital City to Celebrate Barrier-free and Drug-free New Year

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
The New Year celebrations in the capital city will reverberate with a new rhythm with Thiruvananthapuram District Tourism Promotion Council and Kerala Tourism jointly organising a ‘Barrier-free and Drug-free’ event at Thycaud Police Ground on December 31 with differently abled artists as the main performers.
Mayor VK Prasanth will inaugurate the celebrations that will begin at 7 pm.
The Police Ground will turn into a venue for amazing performances by the differently abled artists, including keyboard performance, calendar making and temperature prediction by Prashanth Chandran; fusion music by the visually impaired Muthu and group; Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi by the one-legged Vandana; cycle dance by the vertically challenged Sachin, and performances by the NISH students in Thiruvananthapuram. There will also be a satirical skit by artist Joby and group who are short in stature.
Kerala-based music band Thaikudam Bridge will keep the city alive and awake with their performance from 9 pm on the New Year eve and going on till the early hours of the January 1. The celebrations will also have artists dancing to the most popular numbers from the Indian cinema and international music albums.
“We are happy to welcome the New Year by organising and being part of this special programme, with the differently abled and blessed artists as the main performers. The celebrations will also convey anti-drug messages.,” said Tourism Director UV Jose.
The venue will also have barrier free zones, brea
k areas and food courts. The NGO, Helping Hands Organisation will extend their services at the event for helping the differently abled. There are lucky draws for them at the ccelebrations which expect around 600-700 differently abled attendees.
Free passes for the event can be collected from DTPC office, Vellayambalam and Tourist Facilitation Centre at Department of Tourism, Park View opposite Museum.
Dr. Shashi Taroor, MP will be the chief guest at the function which will presided over by MLA VS Sivakumar . Other dignitaries to be present at the celebrations include DTPC Executive Members – MP A Sampath, MLAs B Sathyan, DK Murali, and V Joy; DGP Loknath Behera; Tourism Principal Secretary Dr V Venu; Director U.V.Jose and renowned musician Ramesh Narayanan. Thiruvananthapuram Sub collector Dr Divya S Iyer will welcome the guests and DTPC Secretary TV Prashanth will extend vote of thanks.